All Tertiary Institutions Must Go Through Relevant Bodies - Minister

Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i

In line with attaining access and quality in the nation's educational system, the minister of education, Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i has stated that all tertiary institutions in the country must go through the relevant bodies.

She said this when she meet with representatives of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education on admissions after lamenting that only 30 out of the 71 invited were in attendance . She wondered how some institutions give admissions, particularly missionary owned institutions without going through parastatals such as JAMB, NBTE, NUC, and NCCE.

She said that for while government is worried about the quota system given to the institutions which has proven that some do not meet up with the number of candidates required, others are over shot and as such, it was 'necessary to re-visit the arrangement made with the national universities commission so that nothing is done at the expense of quality'.

The minster agreed with some of the suggestions, stating that deadlines for the submission of admission list to JAMB should be distinguished and extended for polytechnics and colleges of education as well as the quota system of 90 per cent for UMTE and 10 per cent for direct entry into colleges of education which needs to be reviewed.

The registrar of JAMB, Prof Dibu Ojerinde while commenting on the challenges brought to fore, said that form the year 2013, the new modalities discussed and agreed upon will be put into place.